The Sunday herald., 1887-01-23

companion and occasionally arguing with
him.
"Thats a good thing" says Twain.
"No, 1t won't do either. That man ia sup
posed to be dead, isn't he Can't we resur-
rect him' Nol Well, that Joke will have
TO 90 into one OF my books. Draw your gold
pen through IT,"
"Ifow will this do ~ asks Mr.. Howells,
and the novelist, who has been industri-
Uiis1y II Hotk while the humorist has been
looking out 6f tie t,indow; reads a speech
for Col. Sellers ten uilnuton long, in which
that individual analyses with a god aeal ~
patience the underlying motives Of the
pretty chambermaid which impel her TO go
down stairs every morning precisely at two
minutes TO eleven.
"No, no." exclams Twain; eve don't
want philosophy or whatever you call that
in the play. We want action. Look here I"
And the humorist shows the novelist a
pamphlet which he has bought at a second.
HAND bookstore In New York, entitled "The
Secrets Of Dramatic Construction"
That settles IL with Mr.. Howells, aud he
moufnfully cros5es out seventy FIVE lines on
the perfumed and cream laid paper which he
always uses for literary PURPOSES. Finally
the new play was done. 1t was copied ont
by a type writer, and tied with blue ribbons.
What nestl Au enterprising manager, of
course.
"No no !" said the humorist. "The first
thing we want is a man to play the part.
Let us 60 down to New York and prospect"
The suggestion seemed to he good one
and the dramatic authors came down TO the
ntetrupolls By the neat train. Mr.. Palmer,
Of the Madison s1hafe Theatre, had read
some OF Mr.. Howells's plays, and that mar
A.. a.. tai. al l...s ~
an hours talk or more, during which the
names of some scores Of comedians were sug-
gested, the party hit on the idea Of securing
A. =. Burbank. MIR. Burbank, IL was
argued, was humorous reader of marked
ability. He has had long experience and
had at one time played Grip Van Winkle"
by permission of Mr.. Jefferson with note
| worthy success. He wasn't an actor, ex-
| plained Mr.. Twain, and therefore IL would
be easy to get along with him and he would
not get the disease popularity kn6wfi IS q
big head. Thereupun Mr.. Burbank was sent
| for and asked to appear at the theatre next
morning. Mr.. Howells was there to receive
him. MIR. Twain was sleeping in earnest, SO
earnestly, in fact, that various mild efforts
to awaken him had proved unsuccessful.
AT the request of Mr. Howells, Mr.. Burbank
gave two or three recitations which had
the same kind Of ability on the part of the
comedian as the uuplayed part required.
Nothing was said to MIR. Burbank about the
meaning of all this until some time after
wards. The delay was long, because the
| manuscript had been read by third parties,
and they had expressed their opinion that
the farce, while 1t was very funny, was not
constructed with any remarkable degree of
skill, and that the third act particularly re-
quirsd considerable overhauling. When Mr..
Burbank heard the story about the play his
ambition in the matter was aroused and he
determined to induce the bashful and hesi-
tating dramatic authors to produce it, il
that result could in any way be achieved.
He saw Twain aud his slumberiug enthusi-
asm was reawakened, and II burned so
brightly that MIR. Howells was summoned in
hot haste TO the rosewood desk and the long
interrupted collaboration was resumed forth
with. The third act was fixed up again.
The Secrets of Dramatic Construction were
earnestly consulted and faithfully followed,
and at last everything appeared in excellent
shape.
| Then the financial part Of the enterprise
wa, talked of. Mr.. Burbank discoursed on
the greeting the play would receive simply
on the score of the names of Mark Twain and
Howells standing on the three-sheet posters
as authors. And the humorist, thinking
again of the large amount of money that had
been made out of the "Gilded Age" and how
small q portion of 1t com oaratively he had
received, determined to run tho entire
thing himself. And he told MIR. Burbank he
would back the scheme to any reasonable
amount. At the start the authors were to
receive fifty per cent. of the profits and Mr.
Burbank the other half Everything ar.
| hot 1r,r
Mr.. Burbank came down here at the begin
ming of the summer just past and was de
lighted to learn that he could secure tn,
LyGeum Theatre for a summer engagement
After little negotiation with Dan Frohmar
he engaged it. He notified the authors Il
that effect and began looking around fo
people to make up his company. Whil
engaged in this necessary task the author
up at Hartford began putting on the ilna
touches. And then the Mephistopbeles o
Doubt crept into their wavering breast
once more. Was there any good, after all
One night, at 1905, the humorist summoned
his valet and told him to ask Mr.. Burbanl
over the Western Union telegraph. wire Il
step up to Hartford after breakfast the mex
morning, as hs wanted to speak to him
The valet bowed and retired. Promptly a
O'Clock the next afternoon Mr.. Burbanl
fully into his empty breakfast cup and Mr.
Howells was buttering muffin. Mr.. Bur
bank took a seat.
Burbank, old fellow" said the humorist
eve have concluded not to do that play.
don't think IIowels can write play an.
way, and, after mature reflection, lie ha
come to the conclusion that as n playwright
have no ability. We have been reading
} over the play. We call it play for tn
sake of convenience, and we both think it il
R. o. T. No, no, do not try to controver
this deliberately formed opinion. know
in the kindness of yonr heart, you woul
hattsr us. But don't do it. Our minds ar
made up"
"But the Lyceum Theatref" suggsste
Mr.. Burbank.
! "Buy them off.
The next day the humorist received tn
telegram stating that Dan Frohman wante
81 900 for breach Of contract"
"That's cheap, Howells," remarked Marh
And he drew his check for that amount.
II. S. HEWITT.